TWENTY YOUNG FOOTBALLERS have been put through their paces at the seventh annual AFL Europe Talent Combine in a quest to impress watching scouts and earn a trial Down Under.
The 20 young players involved in this weekend's Combine at UCD. Bryan Keane / INPHO
Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO
The two-day testing event hosted at UCD was conducted by former Down footballer and Collingwood half-back Marty Clarke and AFL National and International Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan.
Players were tested across a number of disciplines including agility, vertical jump, endurance, beep test, speed and skills.
Among those who impressed were Cork underage star Mark Keane, Dublin’s Peadar O’Cofaigh Byrne and Anton Tohill, the son of All-Ireland winner and former Derry midfielder Anthony.
Galway’s Jack Canning, who helped his county to All-Ireland minor hurling success last summer, was also in attendance.
Meanwhile, James Madden showed immense potential in the sprint, agility and endurance tests, with the Dublin minor footballer smashing the Combine record over 20 metres with a time of 2.68 seconds.
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Two of the players will now be invited to participate in the 2018 AFL Draft Combine in Melbourne.
The AFL Combine is part of the league’s international search for elite talent from a variety of sporting backgrounds with drafts held around the world.
Several Irish players — including Colin O’Riordan, Pearce Hanley and Zach Tuohy — have forged successful careers in Aussie Rules and last month, Galway footballer Cillian McDaid was the latest to secure a contract Down Under as he joined Carlton.
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
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Jack Canning among 20 hopefuls put through their paces by Marty Clarke at AFL Combine
TWENTY YOUNG FOOTBALLERS have been put through their paces at the seventh annual AFL Europe Talent Combine in a quest to impress watching scouts and earn a trial Down Under.
The two-day testing event hosted at UCD was conducted by former Down footballer and Collingwood half-back Marty Clarke and AFL National and International Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan.
Players were tested across a number of disciplines including agility, vertical jump, endurance, beep test, speed and skills.
Among those who impressed were Cork underage star Mark Keane, Dublin’s Peadar O’Cofaigh Byrne and Anton Tohill, the son of All-Ireland winner and former Derry midfielder Anthony.
Galway’s Jack Canning, who helped his county to All-Ireland minor hurling success last summer, was also in attendance.
Meanwhile, James Madden showed immense potential in the sprint, agility and endurance tests, with the Dublin minor footballer smashing the Combine record over 20 metres with a time of 2.68 seconds.
Two of the players will now be invited to participate in the 2018 AFL Draft Combine in Melbourne.
The AFL Combine is part of the league’s international search for elite talent from a variety of sporting backgrounds with drafts held around the world.
Several Irish players — including Colin O’Riordan, Pearce Hanley and Zach Tuohy — have forged successful careers in Aussie Rules and last month, Galway footballer Cillian McDaid was the latest to secure a contract Down Under as he joined Carlton.
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
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AFL afl combine keen to impress Marty Clarke